The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

upraised for striking him, he that hath strength of
mind entertaineth no fear. Exertion, self-control,
skill, carefulness, steadiness, memory, and commencement
of acts after mature deliberation,—­know
that these are the roots of prosperity. Austerities
constitute the strength of ascetics; the Vedas are
the strength of those conversant with them; in envy
lieth the strength of the wicked; and in forgiveness,
the strength of the virtuous. These eight, viz.,
water, roots, fruits, milk, clarified butter (what
is done at) the desire of a Brahmana, (or at) the
command of a preceptor, and medicine, are not destructive
of a vow. That which is antagonistic to one’s
own self, should never be applied in respect of another.
Briefly even this is virtue. Other kinds of virtue
there are, but these proceed from caprice. Anger
must be conquered by forgiveness; and the wicked must
be conquered by honesty; the miser must be conquered
by liberality, and falsehood must be conquered by
truth. One should not place trust on a woman,
a swindler, an idle person, a coward, one that is fierce,
one that boasts of his own power, a thief, an ungrateful
person, and an atheist. Achievements, period
of life, fame, and power—­these four always
expand in the case of him that respectfully saluteth
his superiors and waiteth upon the old. Do not
set thy heart after these objects which cannot be
acquired except by very painful exertion, or by sacrificing
righteousness, or by bowing down to an enemy.
A man without knowledge is to be pitied; an act of
intercourse that is not fruitful is to be pitied;
the people of a kingdom that are without food are to
be pitied; and a kingdom without a king is to be pitied.
These constitute the source of pain and weakness to
embodied creatures; the rains, decay of hills and
mountains; absence of enjoyment, anguish of women;
and wordy arrows of the heart. The scum of the
Vedas is want of study; of Brahmanas, absence of vows;
of the Earth, the Vahlikas; of man, untruth; of the
chaste woman, curiosity; of women, exile from home.
The scum of gold is silver; of silver, tin; of tin,
lead; and of lead, useless dross. One cannot
conquer sleep by lying down; women by desire; fire
by fuel; and wine by drinking. His life is, indeed,
crowned with success who hath won his friends by gifts,
his foes in battle, and wife by food and drink; they
who have thousands live; they, who have hundreds, also
live. O Dhritarashtra, forsake desire. There
is none who cannot manage to live by some means or
other. Thy paddy, wheat, gold, animals, and women
that are on earth all cannot satiate even one person
.. Reflecting on this, they that are wise never
grieve for want of universal dominion. O king,
I again tell thee, adopt an equal conduct towards
thy children, i.e., towards the sons of Pandu
and thy own sons.’”